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Bias adjustment of satellite-based precipitation estimation using gauge observations: A case study in Chile
Satellite-based precipitation estimates (SPEs) are promising alternative precipitation data for climatic and hydrological applications, especially for regions where ground-based observations are limited. However, existing satellite-based rainfall estimations are subject to systematic biases. This study aims to adjust the biases in the Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks–Cloud Classification System (PERSIANN-CCS) rainfall data over Chile, using gauge observations as reference. A novel bias adjustment framework, termed QM-GW, is proposed based on the nonparametric quantile mapping approach and a Gaussian weighting interpolation scheme. The PERSIANN-CCS precipitation estimates (daily, 0.04°×0.04°) over Chile are adjusted for the period of 2009–2014. The historical data (satellite and gauge) for 2009–2013 are used to calibrate the methodology; nonparametric cumulative distribution functions of satellite and gauge observations are estimated at every 1°×1° box region. One year (2014) of gauge data was used for validation. The results show that the biases of the PERSIANN-CCS precipitation data are effectively reduced. The spatial patterns of adjusted satellite rainfall show high consistency to the gauge observations, with reduced root-mean-square errors and mean biases. The systematic biases of the PERSIANN-CCS precipitation time series, at both monthly and daily scales, are removed. The extended validation also verifies that the proposed approach can be applied to adjust SPEs into the future, without further need for ground-based measurements. This study serves as a valuable reference for the bias adjustment of existing SPEs using gauge observations worldwide
Generalized backward induction: Justification for a folk algorithm
I introduce axiomatically infinite sequential games that extend Kuhn’s classical framework. Infinite games allow for (a) imperfect information, (b) an infinite horizon, and (c) infinite action sets. A generalized backward induction (GBI) procedure is defined for all such games over the roots of subgames. A strategy profile that survives backward pruning is called a backward induction solution (BIS). The main result of this paper finds that, similar to finite games of perfect information, the sets of BIS and subgame perfect equilibria (SPE) coincide for both pure strategies and for behavioral strategies that satisfy the conditions of finite support and finite crossing. Additionally, I discuss five examples of well-known games and political economy models that can be solved with GBI but not classic backward induction (BI). The contributions of this paper include (a) the axiomatization of a class of infinite games, (b) the extension of backward induction to infinite games, and (c) the proof that BIS and SPEs are identical for infinite games
High-Precision Numerical Simulations of Rotating Black Holes Accelerated by CUDA
Hardware accelerators (such as Nvidia's CUDA GPUs) have tremendous promise
for computational science, because they can deliver large gains in performance
at relatively low cost. In this work, we focus on the use of Nvidia's Tesla GPU
for high-precision (double, quadruple and octal precision) numerical
simulations in the area of black hole physics -- more specifically, solving a
partial-differential-equation using finite-differencing. We describe our
approach in detail and present the final performance results as compared with a
single-core desktop processor and also the Cell BE. We obtain mixed results --
order-of-magnitude gains in overall performance in some cases and negligible
gains in others.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, 1 table, Accepted for publication in the
International Conference on High Performance Computing Systems (HPCS 2010
The economic effects of special purpose entities on corporate tax avoidance
This study provides the first large‐sample evidence on the economic tax effects of special purpose entities (SPEs). These increasingly common organizational structures facilitate corporate tax savings by enabling sponsor‐firms to increase tax‐advantaged activities and/or enhance their tax efficiency (i.e., relative tax savings of a given activity). Using path analysis, we find that SPEs facilitate greater tax avoidance, such that an economically large amount of cash tax savings from research and development (R&D), depreciable assets, net operating loss carryforwards, intangible assets, foreign operations, and tax havens occur in conjunction with SPE use. We estimate that SPEs help generate over $330 billion of incremental cash tax savings, or roughly 6% of total U.S. federal corporate income tax collections during the sample period. Interaction analyses reveal that SPEs enhance the tax efficiency of intangibles and R&D by 61.5% to 87.5%. Overall, these findings provide economic insight into complex organizational structures supporting corporate tax avoidance.Accepted manuscrip
A Dynamic Game Analysis and Design of Infrastructure Network Protection and Recovery
Infrastructure networks are vulnerable to both cyber and physical attacks.
Building a secure and resilient networked system is essential for providing
reliable and dependable services. To this end, we establish a two-player
three-stage game framework to capture the dynamics in the infrastructure
protection and recovery phases. Specifically, the goal of the infrastructure
network designer is to keep the network connected before and after the attack,
while the adversary aims to disconnect the network by compromising a set of
links. With costs for creating and removing links, the two players aim to
maximize their utilities while minimizing the costs. In this paper, we use the
concept of subgame perfect equilibrium (SPE) to characterize the optimal
strategies of the network defender and attacker. We derive the SPE explicitly
in terms of system parameters. Finally, we use a case study of UAV-enabled
communication networks for disaster recovery to corroborate the obtained
analytical results.Comment: 6 page
Microsimulation - A Survey of Methods and Applications for Analyzing Economic and Social Policy
This essential dimensions of microsimulation as an instrument to analyze and forecast the individual impacts of alternative economic and social policy measures are surveyed in this study. The basic principles of microsimulation, which is a tool for practical policy advising as well as for research and teaching, are pointed out and the static and dynamic (cross-section and life-cycle) approaches are compared to one another. Present and past developments of microsimulation models and their areas of application are reviewed, focusing on the US, Europe and Australia. Based on general requirements and components of microsimulation models a microsimulation model's actual working mechanism are discussed by a concrete example: the concept and realization of MICSIM, a PC microsimulation model based on a relational database system, an offspring of the Sfb 3 Statitic Microsimulation Model. Common issues of microsimulation modeling are regarded: micro/macro link, behavioural response and the important question of evaluating microsimulation results. The concluding remarks accentuate the increasing use of microcomputers for microsimulation models also for teaching purposes.Microsimulation, Microanalytic Simulation Models, Microanalysis, Economic and Social Policy Analysis
A Formal Approach based on Fuzzy Logic for the Specification of Component-Based Interactive Systems
Formal methods are widely recognized as a powerful engineering method for the
specification, simulation, development, and verification of distributed
interactive systems. However, most formal methods rely on a two-valued logic,
and are therefore limited to the axioms of that logic: a specification is valid
or invalid, component behavior is realizable or not, safety properties hold or
are violated, systems are available or unavailable. Especially when the problem
domain entails uncertainty, impreciseness, and vagueness, the appliance of such
methods becomes a challenging task. In order to overcome the limitations
resulting from the strict modus operandi of formal methods, the main objective
of this work is to relax the boolean notion of formal specifications by using
fuzzy logic. The present approach is based on Focus theory, a model-based and
strictly formal method for componentbased interactive systems. The contribution
of this work is twofold: i) we introduce a specification technique based on
fuzzy logic which can be used on top of Focus to develop formal specifications
in a qualitative fashion; ii) we partially extend Focus theory to a fuzzy one
which allows the specification of fuzzy components and fuzzy interactions.
While the former provides a methodology for approximating I/O behaviors under
imprecision, the latter enables to capture a more quantitative view of
specification properties such as realizability.Comment: In Proceedings FESCA 2015, arXiv:1503.0437
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